Payeur said homeowners with chimneys must take caution to avoid fires like this and advised they research the type of wood they're burning.

"Know what kind of wood you’re burning, because some wood produces higher amounts of creosote when it burns," he said.

Lt. Scott Basar said people also should make sure the wood they burn has been properly dried, because dry wood doesn't have as much of the buildup, which is what starts the fires.

"It’s best to let the wood dry usually for a year, so it’s completely dried out," Basar said.

Payeur also suggested increasing the amount of times per year homeowners get their chimney professionally cleaned. He said this is especially important for people who frequently close the damper on their chimneys to choke the fire, as this reduces the effectiveness of the chimney and increases the amount of creosote because it cools it faster as it’s going up.